Burmese blowback: Prayuth’s myopic Myanmar policy

Written by Zachary Abuza

Myanmar might not be a failed state yet, but it is teetering towards becoming one. And the capture of the state by EAOs and transnational syndicates will impact Thai security for years to come.

Read More
Rare earths in the grey zone

Written by Michael Brodka

Diversification policy and supply chain alternatives provide the mechanisms for Indo-Pacific countries to lessen their dependence on Chinese REEs; however, further action is necessary. Any long-term REE strategy must also contain plans to reduce consumption, improve the efficiency of the resource, and emphasise recycling.

Read More
Realising the Great Change: Beijing’s South China Sea lawfare strategy

Written by Ryan Lucas

Too often, foreign policy analysts have focused principally on the hard power component of China’s ambitions in the South China Sea. This security-centric approach, while important, risks downplaying a critical piece of China’s South China Sea strategy in the post-pandemic era.

Read More
India and China: Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific decade: Future scenarios — Part II

Written by Velina Tchakarova

India’s geopolitical choices are either joining the US-led bloc of predominantly Anglosphere allies and close partners such as Japan and Australia against China, or, once again, building partnerships of non-aligned middle powers that can navigate through the complex relationship between Washington and Beijing without taking sides.

Read More
Beijing’s ambivalence about the coup in Myanmar

Written by Murray Heibert

Beijing is unlikely to step up its role in Myanmar unless there is a sudden and massive outpouring of refugees across the border into China or opponents of the junta begin threatening Chinese infrastructure in the country.

Read More
New Zealand’s Five Eyes stance: Not surprising, not unjust, and not unwise

Written by Lucas Knotter

New Zealand and the Five Eyes should continue to give strong signals in opposition to China’s international and domestic conduct, but it is hard to countenance a positive outcome from antagonistic machismo rhetoric.

Read More
India’s disastrous second wave: Slick PR can’t save a sick country

Written by Manali Kumar

On-the-ground stories of inadequate testing and outright manipulation of test results lend credence to findings from the IHME’s latest modelling: the true extent of the pandemic may in fact be about 6.76 million cases per day.

Read More
Time to retire the ‘China threat’ debate

Written by Mariana Vieira

Because the ‘China threat’ debate is premised upon the American understanding of 1945 as year-zero of its own global hegemony, proponents struggle to grapple with the potential for different, past and future, conceptions of a global order.

Read More
US-China relations: Biden’s first 100 Days

Written by Beverley Loke

On the whole, Biden has demonstrated consistency between discourse and deeds. His achievements in renewing America’s global role and rejuvenating a liberal rules-based order undergirded by Washington’s leadership have not been trivial.

Read More
Canada: Time to reset its Indo-Pacific approach

Written by Joe Varner

Nevertheless, a golden opportunity exists for Canada in the aftermath of the recent Quad anti-submarine warfare exercise to put itself forward to join the Quad, but the question is — given its spotty performance to date — will Canada be welcome?

Read More
In Conversation: Rory Medcalf on Indo-Pacific Empire

It is fair to generalise that most Indo-Pacific countries welcome the new style of European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific, which is about partnership and cooperation, helping us consolidate the reality that this is a sea of many flags that no one power is entitled to dominate.

Read More
The slow demise of 'business as usual' in China-EU relations

Written by Filip Sebok

It seems that Beijing is willing to sacrifice strategic gains in some areas, including the successful ratification of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investments (CAI), in favour of the aggressive defence of its increasingly repressive domestic policies in Xinjiang and elsewhere.

Read More
Testing the Quad’s support for Taiwan

Written by Huynh Tam Sang

A Quad-aligned security umbrella with Taiwan’s security as one of the top priorities would also assure Taiwan of the grouping’s commitment to supporting the island. Additionally, the security and defence alignment framework would be a firm signal to Beijing that the Quad is not merely a talking shop, but a mode of security multilateralism in the making.

Read More
Eyeball to eyeball at Pangong Tso: Why Sino-Indian tensions will continue

Written by John Pollock

The continuing presence of the PLA throughout Ladakh, with the pressure being applied on the Depsang Plains and the refusal to withdraw from Gogra and Hot Springs, indicates Beijing is not yet finished eroding India’s tactical position in the Himalayas for its strategic gain.

Read More
Sino-Russian relations: Inside the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Written by Eva Seiwert

While their disagreements behind the scenes prevent the SCO from becoming a more effective security organisation, the international images of both governments benefit from their co-leadership of the world’s largest RO in terms both of geographical and population size.

Read More
Abe Shinzo: A legacy in review

Written by Felix Kuhn

Pragmatism served Abe well, making it possible to steady Japan’s relationship with China while building up a coalition of partners in the region. Suga has so far shown no inclination to depart from Abe’s footsteps. But it is not yet clear whether Abe’s policy is sustainable over the long term.

Read More
Why the Quad will endure

Written by William Choong

While there have been negotiations for a formal Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, ASEAN has found no solution to Chinese assertiveness. This is where the four Quad navies can bring power and presence to bear.

Read More